Effect of vincristrine sulphate on the nasal mucosa

ABSTRACT

The present work was undertaken to study the effect of vincristine sulphate on the respiratory and olfactory mucosa of the nose. Eight adult rabbits were used in this work. They were divided into two equal groups and were designated group 1 and II. The animals of group I were given a daily ingection of vincristine [0.25 mg/Kg] for five days. The animals of group II were similarly injected with the dissolving medium for vincristine and were used as controls. The animals of groups I and II were sacrificed seved days after the last injection. Decalcification of the heads was done by 5% trichloroacetic acid. The regions of the nose were excised and sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, PAS and Glees's silver. Administration of vincristine was followed by atropy and degeneration of olfactory epithelium, thickening of basement membrane, degeneration of mucoserous glands, thickening of blood vessels and degeneration of nerve budiles and plexuses. Possible reasons for this were put forward